APees: R and G Are Dead again; reading journal expectations.
Gifted English II: Continuation of the Tudor Dynasty Story. (See below.)
NOTE: Tonight--Boynton Beach to take on a playoff team! Good luck, Boone Braves!
Helpful Notes for Sophys (especially those who have to miss the session sixth period due to the band):
To remember the six wives of Henry VIII: A rhymed couplet!
Divorced, beheaded, died
Divorced, beheaded, survived.
What a nice guy.
The three dominant forms of entertainment for the Elizabethan time period:
*ballet (kidding)
*public executions
*cruelty to animals--cockfighting and bear-baiting
*theater! (so theater had to keep up with the bloodthirstiness)
Lineage:
*Henry VIII
*Edward VI
*Mary I
*Elizabeth I
*James I
*Shakespeare published under both Elizabeth and James's reigns
*James was really only known for two contributions to the artistic world--his sponsorship of the King's Men (1603) and the organization of a committee of learned scholars who would ultimately publish the King James Bible, which is used in some churches to this day.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
I am back at school today, after my longest absence ever. I'd be out today, too, but for residual guilt for being out, so I'm here, but I probably won't be really nice.
The flu is a serious thing, people. Get a flu shot if your health practitioner thinks it's advisable; take vitamins; wash your hands thoroughly. This thing kicked my rear end in a serious way.
Love to all; glad to be back.
NOTE: The Christmas tree is going up, and I encourage everyone to bring something festive to park on the tree. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Diwali, or if you're just coming off of the Eid celebration, December is a traditional month for celebration, friendship, and festivity. Bring something weird to stick on our tree! Last year we had forks and band-aids.
APees: R&G Are Dead--Where are we? Mr. Bailey had you reading assiduously, but do we understand what's going on? Discussion and clarification.
Gifted English II: Candide activity; catch-up on makeup work for others out with the flu, too, and lecture/transition into the Tudor Dynasty. In other words--story time! Be prepared to draw a chart.
The flu is a serious thing, people. Get a flu shot if your health practitioner thinks it's advisable; take vitamins; wash your hands thoroughly. This thing kicked my rear end in a serious way.
Love to all; glad to be back.
NOTE: The Christmas tree is going up, and I encourage everyone to bring something festive to park on the tree. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Diwali, or if you're just coming off of the Eid celebration, December is a traditional month for celebration, friendship, and festivity. Bring something weird to stick on our tree! Last year we had forks and band-aids.
APees: R&G Are Dead--Where are we? Mr. Bailey had you reading assiduously, but do we understand what's going on? Discussion and clarification.
Gifted English II: Candide activity; catch-up on makeup work for others out with the flu, too, and lecture/transition into the Tudor Dynasty. In other words--story time! Be prepared to draw a chart.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Out again. Not that this is relevant, but I've been through two boxes of tissues, two cans of chicken-n-stars soup, one thing of sugar-free Jello, and a lot of Sprite Zero. Never mind all of the other happy medications, too. The flu is not to be taken lightly, so if it's appropriate for you and your family really think about that flu shot. This hasn't been fun!!!!
Be nice to Mr. Bailey.
AP Lit: Continue with R&G Are Dead.
Gifted II: Discussion questions on Candide, in small groups. We will go over the novel and its allusions in class tomorrow.
Be nice to Mr. Bailey.
AP Lit: Continue with R&G Are Dead.
Gifted II: Discussion questions on Candide, in small groups. We will go over the novel and its allusions in class tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Dear Students: I seriously DO have the London flu--it isn't strep throat, and is viral, and is making me feel like a weak kitten. I will be back at school as soon as possible. In the meantime, a few things need to go on in my absence. PROJECT X-MAS begins this week; see Mary Claire if you have any questions. Also, I need a handful of ushers for the preview night showing of A Christmas Tuna on Thursday night at 6 p.m. You will be finished by nine, and will earn SIX community service hours for your efforts. Warning: The show is definitely PG-13 and features some adult humor. It should be a hoot, however.
Mr. Bailey will be with you until I get the all-clear to come back.
AP Lit: Go over the reading journal assignment and begin reading R&G Are Dead by Stoppard. If you can stay focused, you can enact/read aloud. If not--you're on your own!
Gifted English II: Candide timed writing. You'll thank me later--this is in lieu of a test.
Mr. Bailey will be with you until I get the all-clear to come back.
AP Lit: Go over the reading journal assignment and begin reading R&G Are Dead by Stoppard. If you can stay focused, you can enact/read aloud. If not--you're on your own!
Gifted English II: Candide timed writing. You'll thank me later--this is in lieu of a test.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
I have the London flu and won't be here today. Mr. Bailey is your substitute.
APees: Multiple Choice Practice Session, Test #3 on page 185 of the CLIFF book. You will earn ten points for doing this and then we will score your results--and remember that we are "going for" fifty percent correct or higher. The passages are provocative and interesting.
Gifted English II: Today, you are watching a short film called "The Wave." We will be discussing the content of this film tomorrow in class, so pay attention to the details.
APees: Multiple Choice Practice Session, Test #3 on page 185 of the CLIFF book. You will earn ten points for doing this and then we will score your results--and remember that we are "going for" fifty percent correct or higher. The passages are provocative and interesting.
Gifted English II: Today, you are watching a short film called "The Wave." We will be discussing the content of this film tomorrow in class, so pay attention to the details.
THANKSGIVING WEEK
Dear Ones,
Happy Thanksgiving! For the first time in recent memory, OCPS is "off" for the whole week of Thanksgiving--thanks in no small part to the new, delayed school calendar. Enjoy this week and spend time with family and friends.
I will be in London.
HW for the Week Off:
APees: If you desire your own copy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, now is the time to buy one. I have a class set and some extras, so you don't technically NEED to buy one, but if you are one of the students who prefers to write in the margins of your own text then you might want to get one. The version I prefer is twelve dollars and features ISBN # 0-8021-3275-8.
Gifted English II: Finish reading Candide!!! I'm not kidding--you have a test the week after break, and we are wrapping up the Satire Unit with this novel. It's hilarious. You know.
Happy Thanksgiving! For the first time in recent memory, OCPS is "off" for the whole week of Thanksgiving--thanks in no small part to the new, delayed school calendar. Enjoy this week and spend time with family and friends.
I will be in London.
HW for the Week Off:
APees: If you desire your own copy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, now is the time to buy one. I have a class set and some extras, so you don't technically NEED to buy one, but if you are one of the students who prefers to write in the margins of your own text then you might want to get one. The version I prefer is twelve dollars and features ISBN # 0-8021-3275-8.
Gifted English II: Finish reading Candide!!! I'm not kidding--you have a test the week after break, and we are wrapping up the Satire Unit with this novel. It's hilarious. You know.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
TODAY IS BAKED GOODS DAY.
APees: Make-up Hamlet tests, if necessary, followed by a cross-cultural communication exercise in Hamlet-related mass media (re: two scenes from The Lion King and two scenes from the 2000 Michael Almereyda-directed version.)
Gifted English II: Creative writing exercise, followed by more Voltaire. You will have a check-reading test on Candide after Thanksgiving, so plan accordingly. It's a short read and some of you might even be finished by now.
Note to sophys: The Author of the Day projects have been completely re-aligned. See the new sign-up sheet and we will commence after Thanksgiving.
APees: Make-up Hamlet tests, if necessary, followed by a cross-cultural communication exercise in Hamlet-related mass media (re: two scenes from The Lion King and two scenes from the 2000 Michael Almereyda-directed version.)
Gifted English II: Creative writing exercise, followed by more Voltaire. You will have a check-reading test on Candide after Thanksgiving, so plan accordingly. It's a short read and some of you might even be finished by now.
Note to sophys: The Author of the Day projects have been completely re-aligned. See the new sign-up sheet and we will commence after Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
APees: Hamlet Unit Test. Some of you will require the whole period to finish this task, and others will rip through it very quickly. I will have an introductory handout for you re: R and G Are Dead when you finish.
Gifted English II: Grammar Fun followed by Candide State-Sponsored Reading Day (with read-aloud by your instructor.)
Gifted English II: Grammar Fun followed by Candide State-Sponsored Reading Day (with read-aloud by your instructor.)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Early day!!! For you, not for me--I have a department meeting. I'll be around after the meeting, though, if anyone needs help with anything.
APees: Review for Hamlet Unit Test tomorrow. The test is 70 questions ranging from multiple choice to short answer, and we will be reviewing extensively today. Also, we will be discussing/evaluating the following statement from T. S. Eliot regarding Hamlet: "So far from being Shakespeare's masterpiece, the play is most certainly an artistic failure. . .both workmanship and thought are in an unstable condition." Refute? Defend?
(Also, Mrs. Pleicones will be popping by to give you your diploma forms.)
Gifted English II: Grammar review on correct usage, followed by an introductory discussion of Candide and the following elements: A) Pangloss; B) the Lisbon earthquake; C) Leibniz; and D) the concepts of picaresque and bildungsroman.
APees: Review for Hamlet Unit Test tomorrow. The test is 70 questions ranging from multiple choice to short answer, and we will be reviewing extensively today. Also, we will be discussing/evaluating the following statement from T. S. Eliot regarding Hamlet: "So far from being Shakespeare's masterpiece, the play is most certainly an artistic failure. . .both workmanship and thought are in an unstable condition." Refute? Defend?
(Also, Mrs. Pleicones will be popping by to give you your diploma forms.)
Gifted English II: Grammar review on correct usage, followed by an introductory discussion of Candide and the following elements: A) Pangloss; B) the Lisbon earthquake; C) Leibniz; and D) the concepts of picaresque and bildungsroman.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
APees: Obituary Creative Writing Assignments due periods 1, 4, and 5. 2nd period's will be due tomorrow in light of the Senior Assembly today during your class. Go to the auditorium after BBC to get info on caps, gowns, and announcements.
Gifted English II: SAT Vocabulary quiz, followed by a syntactical analysis of Poe. If time: Begin discussion of Candide by Voltaire.
Gifted English II: SAT Vocabulary quiz, followed by a syntactical analysis of Poe. If time: Begin discussion of Candide by Voltaire.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Happy Veterans Day!!! (Technically, it was yesterday, but since 11-11 fell on a Sunday many businesses and organizations are honoring our vets today. We have a special presentation on BBC this morning to commemorate the sacrifices that some of our staff members have made for the US military.)
APees: Discussion of Hamlet's characterization, with respect to the critical essay I gave you last Friday. We'll be looking specifically at the three possible modes of interpretation listed in that essay: A) Hamlet as noble, surrounded by corruption; B) Hamlet as the source of death, decay, and disease in his kingdom, and C) the world as the corrupting element. Also, we'll be creating a "resume" for Hamlet to aid in the construction of your obituary/creative writing assignment due tomorrow.
Gifted English II: Review "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe and discuss thematic threads between Count of Monte Cristo, Candide, and Poe. Quick-quiz and hand turkey art on Poe, followed by a friendly reminder of the vocabulary quiz tomorrow for the SAT words we rec'd last week.
APees: Discussion of Hamlet's characterization, with respect to the critical essay I gave you last Friday. We'll be looking specifically at the three possible modes of interpretation listed in that essay: A) Hamlet as noble, surrounded by corruption; B) Hamlet as the source of death, decay, and disease in his kingdom, and C) the world as the corrupting element. Also, we'll be creating a "resume" for Hamlet to aid in the construction of your obituary/creative writing assignment due tomorrow.
Gifted English II: Review "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe and discuss thematic threads between Count of Monte Cristo, Candide, and Poe. Quick-quiz and hand turkey art on Poe, followed by a friendly reminder of the vocabulary quiz tomorrow for the SAT words we rec'd last week.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
Tonight is the Edgewater Game, and Senior Night!!! Pre-show starts at 6:55 p.m. I am so excited. I just can't hide it.
Come to the game!!!!!!
NOTE: I will not be here today at school, but I will be at the game. So exciting! Mr. Bailey is your substitute, so be nice to him.
APees: Critical analysis of Hamlet. Happy reading.
Gifted English II: Finish Poe's story and read Candide. Fun times!
Come to the game!!!!!!
NOTE: I will not be here today at school, but I will be at the game. So exciting! Mr. Bailey is your substitute, so be nice to him.
APees: Critical analysis of Hamlet. Happy reading.
Gifted English II: Finish Poe's story and read Candide. Fun times!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
APees: FINISH HAMLET. Also, assign creative writing task, due Tuesday: Hamlet's obituary!
Gifted English II: Finish SAT Vocabulary, collect focus papers, and read "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Poe.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Short day!!!
I will be showing The Count of Monte Cristo after school today for any interested parties.
APees: Act V, scene ii. Almost finished. . .
Gifted English II: Review SAT Vocabulary List #1 and finish the Horror Literature handout together.
I will be showing The Count of Monte Cristo after school today for any interested parties.
APees: Act V, scene ii. Almost finished. . .
Gifted English II: Review SAT Vocabulary List #1 and finish the Horror Literature handout together.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
APees: Act V, scene i and predictive discussion: What will happen next? Oh, my.
Gifted English II: Reminder of focus paper assignment and continuation of horror literature discussion, including a cartoon bio of Edgar Allan Poe.
I will be available after school for essay consults if necessary.
Gifted English II: Reminder of focus paper assignment and continuation of horror literature discussion, including a cartoon bio of Edgar Allan Poe.
I will be available after school for essay consults if necessary.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Focus Paper Assignment for Sophys
In the event that you lost the handout, here it is on the blog for students in my tenth grade Gifted English course:
Gifted English II
Focus Paper: The Count of Monte Cristo
Now that most of you have read Dumas’s classic tale, you will focus on one aspect of that novel for written reflection. Your first focus paper this year will be due Thursday, November 8, by 3 p.m. Papers submitted electronically will be accepted, but will automatically lose 10 points. (Still better than a zero for a late paper if you forget it at home!) If you are absent that day, YOUR PAPER IS STILL DUE. Send it by fax (407.897.2455, attention Hilley), FedEx, mule, or a trusted friend—but it is due. Mwahahahahahaha.
YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO SUBMIT THIS PAPER ON WWW.TURNITIN.COM by Thursday, November 8 at midnight.
WHAT IS A FOCUS PAPER?
A focus paper is a short paper on one topic, generally without outside sources. Most focus papers do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page, and are generally no longer than 400 words in length. A focus paper imitates the essay style that you will be expected to generate in a timed-writing session for FCAT Writes! or, more significantly, any Advanced Placement essay you may be asked to compose. College admission essays are generally of this type as well—one well-defined thesis statement, followed by support. A focus paper’s brevity forces you to eliminate unnecessary verbiage and go straight to the point, which is never a bad thing. As Strunk and White stated so elegantly in The Elements of Style, “Brevity is the byproduct of vigor.”
PAPER GUIDELINES:
Ø Papers will be between 300 and 400 words in length.
Ø Papers will be typed, double-spaced, in a professional font (Times New Roman, Calisto, etc.)
Ø Your name will appear in the upper right hand corner of the back side of your last page; in other words, your name will NOT appear on the front.
Ø Your title should be centered at the top of your first page; no title page is necessary. Hopefully, your title will be more imaginative than “Monte Cristo Focus Paper.”
Ø Underline your thesis statement.
Ø Proofread carefully before submitting.
YOUR TOPIC
The most difficult aspect of this assignment may be, for some of you, in the creation of a topic on which to focus. The Writing Center is a terrific resource to go over topics, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Edmond Dantes as the avenging angel. What kind of religious imagery is apparent in the text? Does he truly become a “sword of vengeance”? What elements of his revenge offer him spiritual satisfaction? Does he use religion as a tool to help him achieve his revenge?
The roles of female characters in the novel. Which characters are integral to the development of the narrative? Which women—Mercedes, Valentine, Mme. Danglars, Mme. DeVillefort—serve multiple roles? How are these women characterized? Are they believable?
The importance of setting in this novel. Could this work have taken place in any other time or era? How did the political climate of the time affect aspects of the plot? How critical is setting in establishing mood and tone?
I will be available before and after school to help you if you are having problems. Remember: If you quote something directly from the book, be sure to use the page number after the quotation: (98).
Gifted English II
Focus Paper: The Count of Monte Cristo
Now that most of you have read Dumas’s classic tale, you will focus on one aspect of that novel for written reflection. Your first focus paper this year will be due Thursday, November 8, by 3 p.m. Papers submitted electronically will be accepted, but will automatically lose 10 points. (Still better than a zero for a late paper if you forget it at home!) If you are absent that day, YOUR PAPER IS STILL DUE. Send it by fax (407.897.2455, attention Hilley), FedEx, mule, or a trusted friend—but it is due. Mwahahahahahaha.
YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO SUBMIT THIS PAPER ON WWW.TURNITIN.COM by Thursday, November 8 at midnight.
WHAT IS A FOCUS PAPER?
A focus paper is a short paper on one topic, generally without outside sources. Most focus papers do not exceed one typed, double-spaced page, and are generally no longer than 400 words in length. A focus paper imitates the essay style that you will be expected to generate in a timed-writing session for FCAT Writes! or, more significantly, any Advanced Placement essay you may be asked to compose. College admission essays are generally of this type as well—one well-defined thesis statement, followed by support. A focus paper’s brevity forces you to eliminate unnecessary verbiage and go straight to the point, which is never a bad thing. As Strunk and White stated so elegantly in The Elements of Style, “Brevity is the byproduct of vigor.”
PAPER GUIDELINES:
Ø Papers will be between 300 and 400 words in length.
Ø Papers will be typed, double-spaced, in a professional font (Times New Roman, Calisto, etc.)
Ø Your name will appear in the upper right hand corner of the back side of your last page; in other words, your name will NOT appear on the front.
Ø Your title should be centered at the top of your first page; no title page is necessary. Hopefully, your title will be more imaginative than “Monte Cristo Focus Paper.”
Ø Underline your thesis statement.
Ø Proofread carefully before submitting.
YOUR TOPIC
The most difficult aspect of this assignment may be, for some of you, in the creation of a topic on which to focus. The Writing Center is a terrific resource to go over topics, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Edmond Dantes as the avenging angel. What kind of religious imagery is apparent in the text? Does he truly become a “sword of vengeance”? What elements of his revenge offer him spiritual satisfaction? Does he use religion as a tool to help him achieve his revenge?
The roles of female characters in the novel. Which characters are integral to the development of the narrative? Which women—Mercedes, Valentine, Mme. Danglars, Mme. DeVillefort—serve multiple roles? How are these women characterized? Are they believable?
The importance of setting in this novel. Could this work have taken place in any other time or era? How did the political climate of the time affect aspects of the plot? How critical is setting in establishing mood and tone?
I will be available before and after school to help you if you are having problems. Remember: If you quote something directly from the book, be sure to use the page number after the quotation: (98).
Monday, November 5, 2007
Can you believe our team is 9-0? Don't forget that the EDGEWATER GAME is this Friday night, and it's also Senior Night! Be there--I will!!!
APees: Exciting response quiz on Act IV, with the play as your guide--we will "massage" the language, as Mrs. Covert puts it. Good times. Afterward, we'll watch the mad sequence in Hamlet and discuss the role of Ophelia as the metaphorical flower in the garden.
Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation, followed by a neato lecture/discussion on horror literature, Carl Jung, and Stephen King's theories of fright and fear. Learn to draw and iceberg! Near, far, wherever you are. . . Also, SAT Vocabulary List #1--20 words you should already know.
Friendly reminder: Sophys have a focus paper due THURSDAY. Don't forget!!!
APees: Exciting response quiz on Act IV, with the play as your guide--we will "massage" the language, as Mrs. Covert puts it. Good times. Afterward, we'll watch the mad sequence in Hamlet and discuss the role of Ophelia as the metaphorical flower in the garden.
Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation, followed by a neato lecture/discussion on horror literature, Carl Jung, and Stephen King's theories of fright and fear. Learn to draw and iceberg! Near, far, wherever you are. . . Also, SAT Vocabulary List #1--20 words you should already know.
Friendly reminder: Sophys have a focus paper due THURSDAY. Don't forget!!!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
APees: After a brief, cursory discussion of Act IV and collection of the FPs, we are going to do a practice session for the AP exam that involves a fairly controversial passage. Bring a pencil and be prepared to be challenged--and shocked!
Gifted English II: Whew--aren't you glad that the CMC test is over? You will get the tests back on Monday. Friendly reminder that your CMC paper is still due next Thursday and must be submitted on www.turnitin.com. See me if you have technical difficulties with uploading this.
Also: Please acquire Candide by Voltaire--from a bookstore, the library, or a junior/senior who is no longer reading it. It is a hoot and we will read some of it together in class. For those of you taking AP Euro this year, Candide will complement your studies of all of the "isms" nicely.
Today in class--Author of the Day presentation, and introduction to the Literature of Horror. (Packet ready to go, and it has clip art!!!!!!!)
Gifted English II: Whew--aren't you glad that the CMC test is over? You will get the tests back on Monday. Friendly reminder that your CMC paper is still due next Thursday and must be submitted on www.turnitin.com. See me if you have technical difficulties with uploading this.
Also: Please acquire Candide by Voltaire--from a bookstore, the library, or a junior/senior who is no longer reading it. It is a hoot and we will read some of it together in class. For those of you taking AP Euro this year, Candide will complement your studies of all of the "isms" nicely.
Today in class--Author of the Day presentation, and introduction to the Literature of Horror. (Packet ready to go, and it has clip art!!!!!!!)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Welcome to November--only a couple of days left until we Fall Back!!!
APees: Hamlet, Act IV--discussions including the following motifs: poison, disease, garden imagery, and flowers. Focus heavily on Claudius's emotional state in your re-reading. Friendly reminder: Your first focus paper this quarter is due tomorrow by 3 p.m. in hard copy format (unless you're on the crew team, in which case you can bring it Monday.) ALL are due by midnight tomorrow on http://www.turnitin.com/. The Hamlet paper file is up and should be working; if not, e-mail me a Word attachment (not wordpad or works, please) and I will upload it for you.
Gifted English II: Essay test on The Count of Monte Cristo is today. You may use your book to help you. Due to the nature of the test and its time constraints, we will have no Author of the Day today.
I will be here after school to help any last-minute hysterical applications to UF. Your deadline is midnight tonight, but hopefully you are all already there!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)